My Name Is Loh Kiwan

Emotional story

I wasn't going to watch this movie. It looked depressing, there seemed like there was going to be a lot of violence in it, and those aren't the types of shows I like. Well, I'm going to have to modify my first impressions, for sure.

The story itself it heart wrenching. Have you ever known anyone that, no matter what they did or tried, they continue to live under a black cloud of misfortune? That was Kiwan and Marie both. They lived lives that we can't even fathom, the kind of lives we wouldn't wish on anyone. This was a story about going on, about not giving up, and also about the strength we get from others. There is romance, but it isn't about the romance at all. That seemed secondary to me. If this is something that matters to you, it has a good ending.

The acting was amazing. Song Joong Ki was mesmerizing, not only from the fact that he looked completely different than anything else I've seen him in, but his deep quiet voice, his economy of movements and his soulful eyes brought Kiwan to life. I really felt for him and kept wanting things to get better for him.
Choi Sung Eun as Marie. This was a character that we've seen in countless dramas, but she played the part without the extreme hardness that I've seen elsewhere. I was rooting for her almost from the beginning, wishing she could catch some kind of break. The love between Kiwan and Marie actually redeemed both of them.
Jo Han Chul as Marie's father. He's very versatile. If seen him in many things where he's the comic relief, or the bumbling fool. I saw his in something else as a psychopath. In this movie, he was a man living with his grief, trying unsuccessfully to have a relationship with his daughter.

The cinematography was interesting. It was darkly filmed, to go along with the darkness of their lives. Early on, on the few occasions that we it lighter, it was more of an artificial light, the kind that gives skin a yellowish hue and you can't tell what color things are. Counteract that with the ending, out in the sunshine (and freedom), it was very effective.

Though they were supposed to be in Belgium, shooting actually took place in Budapest, which was a treat for me after vacationing in Budapest.

My only complaint was the translation done by Netflix. I don't speak a lot of Korean, but "thank you" is not "I love you". Also, when they were attempting to speak English, by saying "I do not speak English", Netflix translated it as "I don't speak French", and then when they were speaking in Korean, the subtitles said, "Speaking in English".

Don't pass over this just because it's not your usual genre. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

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Very corny Western cast.

Yesterday, while watching this movie, I made an interesting self-discovery. To be blunt: I prefer Song Joong Ki's acting in movies more than in TV dramas. His acting in TV dramas is below average, and his facial expressions are the same for sadness, anger, happiness or emotion. In the movies, I see it differently; it seems that the director extracts all the artistic quality he has, and I consider that commendable. Anyway, now I have discovered what bothered me about his acting: the pasteurization that Korean TV dramas suffer. Korea is always more concerned with what the public thinks or will think than with the art itself of the product it broadcasts.

About the drama, I found the synopsis interesting and the events very well developed and dynamic. However, it is necessary to mention the terrible acting of the Western cast of the film, all acting in a very corny way and causing embarrassment in every speech. I wonder how NETFLIX selected this cast, based on what?

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A tale of resilience and patience

A film about illegal immigration, seeking refuge, and the right to live, ‘My Name is Loh Kiwan’ aims at showing us the grim reality of immigration and life as a nomad. Loh Kiwan, played by Song Joong-ki, is a young North Korean defector who is forced to enter Belgium in a desperate attempt to survive. Enduring harsh conditions as the Belgian government determines his fate, he meets Marie, a drug addict seeking refuge from her troubled reality. Their survival amid the odds serves as the basic premise of the film.
The film masterfully juxtaposes the main plotline with a secondary narrative involving Marie’s entanglement with nefarious elements. While this subplot adds depth to her character, it occasionally falters in its execution, with certain aspects feeling less compelling than others. While grappling with technical shortcomings, the film’s central message of hope and resilience shines through, leaving viewers with a profound sense of reflection and empathy for the struggles of refugees. My Name is Loh Kiwan stands as a testament to the power of love to transcend barriers and illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience.

My Rating : 7.5/10

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A World of Deviant, Horrible People!

The film strives to be inspirational and sentimental, but it comes up short on both. In the beginning, we find ourselves cheering and rooting for Loh Kiwan, hoping that he can find a better life than the one he’s been living in North Korea and China.

Loh Kiwan emigrates to Belgium with the hope of starting a new life. He has only the money his mother left him as well as whatever money were obtained by selling her corpse. In Belgium, we find that Kiwan has traded one bad situation for another. He has to wait several months before he can apply for asylum. He’s beaten up by thugs, and he has his wallet stolen by Marie, another North Korean defector who has been living in Belgium with her father. Marie is a rather disgusting woman who smokes, does drugs, and finds herself in the clutches of a ruthless underworld Belgian gang. Of course, it’s hard to sympathize with a woman as immature and cowardly as Marie is. After all, she made her world what it is, while Kiwan is trying to change his.

Kiwan finds himself sleeping in public bathrooms or anywhere he can find shelter against the bitter winter cold. After a time, he finally finds himself a job in a slaughterhouse. Once again, a former North Korean defector vows to help him, only to betray him when he needs her help the most. It seems that Kiwan can’t seem to catch a break anywhere. The Belgian government requires proof that he’s a North Korean defector since many Chinese have used that in order to gain residence in the country.

Meanwhile, Marie is an expert marksman with guns, and she’s used by the Belgian gang boss to earn money and help him pay off his debt. Caught up in the world of drugs and violence, Marie doesn’t see anything changing. A typical rebellious daughter, who doesn’t know the truth about her own mother’s death, uses it as an excuse for her pathetic life.

In the end, we wonder just who is saving whom. We initially believe that Marie will help Kiwan, but in the end, it’s pretty much the reverse as Kiwan finally helps Marie escape the horrible underworld, but at the price of leaving the country.

The story is based upon a book written by Marie about Loh Kiwan. I’d be interested in finding out how much of this film is fact or dramatized. The film could have been so much better. While it’s brutal in its honesty, its attempt to be romantic and sentimental fail. Marie is hardly appealing in any way, shape, or form, and the ultimate hero of the story is Kiwan for finding some way to keep on going, even after the beatings, the betrayals, and being in a country where very little ever goes right for him. Kiwan is clearly made of sterner stuff, and he’s a far stronger person than Marie could ever hope to be. Marie is simply petulant and cowardly.

Peformances were very good in this film. It’s just too bad that it wasn’t nearly as inspirational as it could have been. It certainly doesn’t paint a very good picture of Belgium as a country either. Given his limited funds, Kiwan isn’t able to simply leave and go somewhere else until the end when he finally meets Marie in Madagascar, which is where the film ends. Ironically, it’s also the only scene in the film where there is actual sunlight. It’s almost as if the rest of the world is dark, gray, and bleak. Unfortunately, most of this film is that way too. Overall, the film was a disappointment, which is a shame given the story and performances.

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Unrealistic and underwhelming

Just... a big no. I really liked this actor in the drama "vincenzo" so i was looking forward to his new movie but honestly? That was the most disappointing thing i saw of this actor so far. Not because of his acting, but that he would accept and play such a role in such an unrealistic anx underwhelming story. I just couldnt bring myself to finish it, every minute of it felt like 5 or 10 minutes. Dropped it around half of it. Just a no.

I thought this would be an interesting thriller, instead the focus rather became their romance which - is unrealistic as well. It wasn't love at first glance noir did they have good chemistry or enough time to bond. He would risk everything for her, even took/tried a drug asking her how she can consume it when it tastes bad, despite having enough problems of his own. The writers tried to make her an independent woman but failed big time.

The action could have been better as well, not just him getting beaten up by anyone he meets basically.

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Un film di alto livello, per significato, trama, sceneggiatura e recitazione

Che dire, un piccolo gioiello. Aspettavo da tantol'uscita di questo film, sia per la presenza di uno dei miei attori preferiti - Song Joong ki - sia per la trama che vedeva il protagonista in fuga dalla Corea del Nord. Lo spaccato della vita di Loh Kiwan in Corea del Nord si inserisce come flashback poco dopo il suo arrivo a Bruxelles. Ciò che lo muove è esclusivamente l'istinto di sopravvivenza e la determinazione a farlo al meglio delle sue possibilità (passaggio fondamentale, perchè disposto a rinunciare ai propri valori solo quando ha esaurito tutte le alternative possibili). Loh Kiwan si lascia la Corea del Nord alle spalle, la fuga riuscita ha il sapore della salvezza, ma la realtà si dimostra subito ben diversa: l'accoglienza è solo di nome, la burocrazia contorta è insensibile quanto il trattamento riservato ai nuovi arrivati. Lo osserviamo quindi annaspare mentre la sua situazione volge sempre più in miseria, e paradossalmente il ricordo del giorno del suo compleanno, mentre gustava un piatto in compagnia della madre, benché prigioniero del proprio Paese, sembra preferibile allo stato di totale abbandono e degrado in cui versa ora che si trova in uno Stato dove per assurdo ha sede la Corte europea dei diritti dell'uomo. Un paradosso che stride e risalta in modo netto e inequivocabile. L'unico su cui può contare resta sé stesso: non la Corea del Nord, non le istituzioni belghe, e nemmeno le persone con le quali interagisce, come ad esempio la collega di lavoro alla quale si affida, ma che a sua volta si troverà nella condizione di non poterlo aiutare, suo malgrado. E' una guerra tra poveri, un meccanismo che lui disinnesca nel momento in cui si mette in gioco per Marie. Il finale è abbastanza prevedibile, ma sarebbe mancato un messaggio di speranza, se si fosse optato per altre soluzioni. Il passaggio a mio avviso più bello è quando lui lascia il Belgio, rendendosi davvero "libero" per la prima volta in vita sua. Perchè di fatto, benché la fuga dalla Corea del Nord avesse come obiettivo conseguente la possibilità di poter rimanere di diritto a Bruxelles, questo diritto si rivela al tempo stesso ancora una prigione: non può lasciare la Corea perchè contro la legge, ma sempre la legge lo tiene sotto scacco in Belgio, perchè andarsene equivale a rinunciare allo status di rifugiato. E' nel diritto ad abbandonare un posto, che sia la Corea, il Belgio o qualsiasi altro luogo, che risiede il concetto profondo di libertà sul quale ruota l'intero film. Passando alla recitazione, un'ottima prova per Song Joong Ki: è un attore di grande carisma e fascino, che ha avuto modo di dimostrare come sa brillare rivestendo ruoli con queste caratteristiche (Vincenzo, tanto per citarne uno), ma che in Loh Kiwan si mette veramente alla prova, trasandato nell'aspetto - mi sfugge il perchè dei nei disposti quasi come una costellazione sul volto - e senza quella forza fisica e agilità che ci ha abituato a vedere in altri suoi lavori. La forza del personaggio è tutta interiore, un misto di determinazione e forza di volontà che lo fanno andare avanti, sempre e comunque. Per quanto io lo preferisca quando interpreta un altro tipo di personaggi, non posso non riconoscere che in questo caso, proprio perchè lontano anni luce dai ruoli che sappiamo gli riescono alla perfezione, la sua recitazione acquisisce per assurdo un valore aggiunto. Un film da non perdere. Davvero.

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Lembrete brutal e poético de que sobreviver é, muitas vezes, o ato mais corajoso de amar

“Às vezes, você só precisa que alguém diga: eu vejo você.”

Quando eu terminei esse filme, fiquei em silêncio. Não por falta do que sentir, mas por excesso.
Loh Kiwan é um refugiado norte-coreano que foge pra Bélgica com a esperança de reconstruir sua vida. Só que ele chega lá sem documentos, sem dinheiro, sem idioma e, principalmente, sem lugar no mundo.

O filme não tem pressa. Ele mostra o frio, a fome, a solidão. Mas também mostra o brilho de pequenas dignidades recuperadas: um gesto, um olhar, um prato de comida quente. E é nesse cenário duro que ele encontra Marie, uma mulher quebrada à sua própria maneira, lutando contra seus próprios vazios.

E aí… o improvável acontece.
Não um romance açucarado, mas uma conexão crua, humana. Um amor que não salva, mas acolhe.
Dói ver. Porque o filme não esconde o que é ser estrangeiro, ser invisível, ser sobrevivente num mundo que gira mais rápido do que a alma consegue acompanhar.

A atuação de Song Joong Ki está poderosa. Contida, ferida, inteira. Ele faz Kiwan ser mais do que uma causa ou bandeira: ele é uma pessoa.
E isso, por si só, já transforma tudo.

🌨️ “Meu nome é Loh Kiwan.
E mesmo que o mundo me rejeite, eu sigo aqui. Porque amar é continuar existindo.”

Esse filme me lembrou que, às vezes, ser visto é mais urgente que ser amado.
E que o amor, quando chega, pode não ter promessas, mas pode ter abrigo.

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Quand l’émotion reste à la frontière…

Quand j’ai lancé "My Name is Loh Kiwan", je m’attendais à être touchée en plein cœur 💘 On va suivre un réfugié nord-coréen, exilé en Belgique, qui lutte pour survivre, pour exister.... En gros un spitch ultra prometteur, avec Song Joong Ki dans un registre plus brut, plus sombre… franchement, j’étais prête à souffrir avec lui 😮‍💨

Mais voilà, j’ai regardé… et j’ai rien ressenti... rien de ce que voulais ressentir... 🤷🏼‍♀️

C’est pas que c’est mal joué, Song Joong Ki fait le job et Choi Sung Eun aussi 👍🏻. Les regards sont justes, les silences sont lourds, mais ça n'a jamais réussi à m'attraper... J’ai eu cette sensation étrange d’être derrière une vitre, à regarder deux âmes en peine se frôler... sans jamais que leurs douleurs me touche réellement 🧊

La romance, elle est là, bien présente, mais je l'ai trouvé froide, trop fragile, pas assez incarnée... 😔 J’ai compris ce qu’ils voulaient raconter, mais je ne l’ai pas ressenti. Pour moi quand tu parles d’amour dans un monde qui t’arrache tout, j'ai besoin que ça prenne aux tripes… Là, ça reste sage, distant, trop mécanique 😶

Après le film lui-même est lent... Et pas dans le bon sens... Ça traîne, ça pose des scènes fortes sur le papier, mais a l'écran je trouve que ça manquent d’âme... c'est plat, sans intensité, sans montée, aucune apogée... 😴

Et pourtant, je voulais vraiment kiffer, être embarquée... Mais au final plus les minutes passaient, plus je décrochais. J’était juste… spectatrice, et pour un film qui parle d’identité, de survie, d’exil, je trouve que c’est bien dommage 😔

Le seul moment où j’ai un peu vibré, c’est dans les flashbacks, quand on entrevoit ce que Loh Kiwan a laissé derrière lui 🥺 mais le reste ?!? Beaucoup trop tiède pour que ça me bouscule 🤷🏼‍♀️

Bref… c’est un film qui aurait pu être grand, mais pour moi, il reste un sujet brûlant, avec une narration glacée 🥶😩✌🏻

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